The Government is standing firmly behind its deregulation of the taxi industry despite traffic chaos in the major cities caused by angry taxi drivers yesterday. Further protests are expected.
The strength of the protests appears to have caused some surprise in Government circles but there was hope that, with sensitive handling, the protesters would shortly run out of steam.
However, Government sources were indicating that the court injunction taken by Aer Rianta, as a result of the disruption by taxi drivers at Dublin Airport, would be enforced by the authorities.
Last night, gardai served injunctions on about six taxi drivers at the airport.
Mr John Ussher, president of the Irish Taxi Drivers' Federation, said other drivers were settling down for the night.
The Minister for Justice, Mr O'Donoghue, described it as a "difficult and volatile" situation which was subject to change minute by minute. However he said the Garda had to be pragmatic and did not wish to exacerbate the situation.
He was responding to a Dail question from the Fine Gael public enterprise spokesman, Mr Jim Higgins, who said the blockades involved "naked anarchy and a complete disregard for law and public order".
"Why is such special consideration being given to taxi drivers? This is not an orderly protest but an illegal blockade," he said.
Mr O'Donoghue, who was in frequent contact with the Garda Commissioner, Mr Pat Byrne, by telephone yesterday, said he had been assured the situation was under constant review.
The Garda warned last night that it would not stand idly by and let taxi drivers break the law.
"We can't tolerate traffic disruptions the like of which we have seen today. We have to ensure individuals have the right of free passage," said Supt John Farrelly.
A Garda spokesman also warned that taxi drivers who illegally disrupted traffic yesterday might be prosecuted. Details of some number plates, taxi plates and the names and addresses of drivers who caused obstruction yesterday were taken.
The Garda Commissioner met senior officers last night to discuss the disruption.
A Government spokesman said compensation was the only issue which remained to be fully sorted out. The Minister for Finance, Mr McCreevy, is to make provision for tax relief over a number of years for capital losses incurred by existing taxi licence holders, tied to the actual price they paid for the licence. It was also learned last night from Department of Finance sources that the introduction of tax clearance certificates for taxi drivers is being considered.
Aer Rianta is advising passengers this morning to allow an extra two hours to reach the airport. An estimated 45,000 travellers were affected yesterday.
There was also considerable disruption in Dublin city centre. Kildare Street was closed at its junction with Nassau Street from early yesterday. Cook Street and Fishamble Street were also closed because of the protest.
In Cork, the city's 216 taxi owners withdrew their services. However, the 620 hackney cabs in the city continued to operate.
In Galway city, the three main taxi companies staged a 24-hour withdrawal of services.
In Limerick, about 50 drivers staged a protest for more than two hours at the pharmacy owned by Mr Tim O'Malley, a Progressive Democrat member of Limerick County Council. A further 80 drivers took their taxis to Dublin to protest.
In the midlands, about 35 taxi-drivers took part in an hour-long protest in Mullingar.
In Waterford, there were major traffic delays when 24 taxi drivers blockaded two lanes of Rice Bridge, the main access route from the north and east to the city, for almost an hour on two occasions yesterday.